Deputy Interior Minister reminds local governments to collaborate in facing global challenges
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Interior Minister (Wamendagri) Akhmad Wiyagus has reminded local governments (pemda) that they cannot work independently in carrying out governance and development, and must build collaboration among local governments.
“Inter-regional cooperation is no longer just an administrative choice, but has become a national strategic necessity,” said Wiyagus in his statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
This was conveyed by Wiyagus at the Gala Dinner of the Mitra Praja Utama (MPU) Partners’ Familiarisation Night in Semarang, Central Java, on Monday (11/5).
Furthermore, Wiyagus hopes that the MPU forum can produce strategic and implementative steps to strengthen the synergy between central and local governments in maintaining national economic stability.
“I also encourage the MPU to become a foundation for adaptive and innovative regional inter-local government cooperation that can produce concrete solutions to various cross-regional issues, including inflation control, food security, energy strengthening, disaster management, as well as security and public order stability,” he stated.
According to him, cross-regional synergy and collaboration are now a national strategic need to face various global challenges, from energy crises and climate change to global geopolitical uncertainties.
Wiyagus also highlighted the strategic role of the ten provinces that are members of the MPU, which are considered to have strong fiscal capacity and significant contributions to the national economy.
He noted that the Java Island region currently contributes more than 57 percent to national economic growth, so the potential of each region needs to complement each other through their respective comparative advantages.
To strengthen national resilience, he encouraged strengthening inter-regional connectivity, both in the logistics, trade, energy, and government digitalisation sectors.
Regions with food surpluses are expected to help other regions in need, while regions with high local original revenue (PAD) are asked to become drivers of regional development.
“Regions with food surpluses must be able to support regions in need. Then, regions with strong fiscal capacity need to become drivers of regional development,” said Wiyagus.
The event was also attended by the Governor of Central Java Ahmad Luthfi, the Deputy Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) KGPAA Paku Alam X, the Deputy Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Indah Dhamayanti Putri, Executive Director of Mitra Praja Utama Suhajar Diantoro, as well as several ministry/institution officials and representatives of other MPU member local governments.